HID xenon bulbs are quite a recent development in automotive lighting technology. The HID stands for High Intensity Discharge, which refers to the unique way in which the bulbs produce their light. Unlike ordinary halogen headlight bulbs, HID xenon bulbs do not contain a conventional metal filament, so in order to ignite the xenon gas and metal halide within the glass bulb a very high voltage spark is needed which is delivered by two electrodes.
The high voltage that is used to generate the spark is around 20,000 volts, which is considerably higher than a car's normal 12 volt supply and so a metal box, called a ballast unit, is fitted to help boost the voltage. Once the spark has been generated and the bulb is illuminated the voltage drops down to a steady 85 volts.
The xenon gas belongs to the group of elements known as the noble gases, and is held within a single sealed glass tube above the base of the bulb. When ignited the xenon helps to produce a light that is 300% brighter than halogen, and because the light is also much whiter it more closely resembles natural daylight.
The bulbs used in HID xenon headlights typically last around 3000 to 4000 hours and when they do finally fail they normally give a warning by flickering intermittently before eventually failing to light up at all. It is possible to change these xenon bulbs yourself, however because of the high voltages associated with HID systems always make sure the electrical power is off, and if you are at all unsure arrange to have the work carried out by a qualified mechanic or auto technician.
When buying replacement HID bulbs you may be surprised at their high price, especially when compared to standard halogen headlight bulbs, however they do not have to be replaced in pairs and because of their exceptional service life they do still offer great value for money. There is also now a growing range of upgrade HID xenon bulbs that allow you to personalise the night time appearance of your car. Whilst the standard HID bulbs produce a white light with a yellow tint, upgrade xenon bulbs are available in blue, purple or pure white tints.
Because they produce such a bright light many drivers wonder whether HID Xenon bulbs are actually road legal. Well the simple answer is that they are completely road legal if they are part of a manufacturer's factory fitted HID lighting system. It is possible to buy aftermarket kits that upgrade standard halogen headlights to HID xenon bulbs, however at present the law does state that these type of HID conversion kits are not legal.
If you have HID Xenon Headlight Bulbs fitted to your vehicle then you will appreciate the effects that they have on the light output from your headlights, especially on dark unlit roads. If however, your vehicle does not have HID xenon lights fitted as standard, you can still upgrade to xenon by fitting high performance Car Bulbs, which emit more light than standard auto bulbs.
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Showing posts with label HID bulbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HID bulbs. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Waterproof HID Conversion is the Ticket for Side x Side Vehicles
San Fernando Valley, CA. August 25, 2009 - Side X Side Customs is proud to announce its Version 2.0 HID Head Light kits for the Polaris RZR and Ranger UTVs.
plug and play
plug and play
This plug and play Version 2.0 kit includes a-slim black ballast and 6000K bulbs. And unlike other HID kits that have key components that are exposed to the elements, the Side x Side Customs kit comes with a waterproof ballast and bulbs.
These HID kit draws less power to operate then the factory stock bulbs; they only draw 35 watts per side as opposed to the 55 watts power draw per side on the factory bulbs. HID lights are also 3 times brighter then stock halogen bulbs and are a must for any lighting upgrade.
MSRP $ 189.99
Side X Side Customs has over 20 years of electronics experience and within the past 4 years has been concentrating on UTVs to bring quality and affordable electronic parts and accessories to the UTV marketplace.
SOURCE:
plug and play
plug and play
This plug and play Version 2.0 kit includes a-slim black ballast and 6000K bulbs. And unlike other HID kits that have key components that are exposed to the elements, the Side x Side Customs kit comes with a waterproof ballast and bulbs.
These HID kit draws less power to operate then the factory stock bulbs; they only draw 35 watts per side as opposed to the 55 watts power draw per side on the factory bulbs. HID lights are also 3 times brighter then stock halogen bulbs and are a must for any lighting upgrade.
MSRP $ 189.99
Side X Side Customs has over 20 years of electronics experience and within the past 4 years has been concentrating on UTVs to bring quality and affordable electronic parts and accessories to the UTV marketplace.
SOURCE:
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Xenon Lights IS Now An Option
More car manufactures are starting to offer Xenon HID headlights as an option on mid range cars and standard equipment for the top of the line vehicles.. You will also find this product being offered as anafte rmarket item. So you may get a new car with a pair as standard equipment. However, if you have an older car you still have a choice. As you begin to hear more about them, some people are having questions before they decide to purchase this expensive option. Here are some of the questions and answers.
Do Xenon HID headlights produce more glare than halogen? Federal requirements are identical for both when it comes to glare.
Why are these headlights blue? The blue light is caused by the energy distribution produced inside of the bulb by the Xenon gases which are under high pressure. The output radiation of the bulb has a line spectrum with some of the peaks in the visible blue region. So all of the light produced by these headlights are not blue, but they still look blue.
Are all blue headlamps Xenon HID systems? No. Some people and manufactures try and inmate the blue color of a HID bulb by painting or coating a halogen bulb blue. A true Xenon bulb is not blue. The bluish color is a result of the high voltage arc and discharge of the Xenon gas within the bulb.
How do I know if my vehicle has a Xenon HID system? There are several things you can look for. First, a Xenon HID system has a brilliant bluish white appearance where a standard halogen system has a yellowish appearance. Second, the Xenon HID system will output much more light than the standard system. A third item to look for is a "flash" blue and a change of color when the Xenon HID system is first turned on. Lastly, look at the outer lens of your system. If you see "D1S", "D1R", "D2S" or "D2R" it should be a Xenon HID system. If you do not see one of these combinations then you do not have a Xenon HID system.
How do I know my HID system is legal? If it has one of the four markings in number 4 above, and it also has the letters "DOT" it should indicate compliance to the U.SL Department of Transportation regulations for Xenon headlamps.
SOURCE:
Do Xenon HID headlights produce more glare than halogen? Federal requirements are identical for both when it comes to glare.
Why are these headlights blue? The blue light is caused by the energy distribution produced inside of the bulb by the Xenon gases which are under high pressure. The output radiation of the bulb has a line spectrum with some of the peaks in the visible blue region. So all of the light produced by these headlights are not blue, but they still look blue.
Are all blue headlamps Xenon HID systems? No. Some people and manufactures try and inmate the blue color of a HID bulb by painting or coating a halogen bulb blue. A true Xenon bulb is not blue. The bluish color is a result of the high voltage arc and discharge of the Xenon gas within the bulb.
How do I know if my vehicle has a Xenon HID system? There are several things you can look for. First, a Xenon HID system has a brilliant bluish white appearance where a standard halogen system has a yellowish appearance. Second, the Xenon HID system will output much more light than the standard system. A third item to look for is a "flash" blue and a change of color when the Xenon HID system is first turned on. Lastly, look at the outer lens of your system. If you see "D1S", "D1R", "D2S" or "D2R" it should be a Xenon HID system. If you do not see one of these combinations then you do not have a Xenon HID system.
How do I know my HID system is legal? If it has one of the four markings in number 4 above, and it also has the letters "DOT" it should indicate compliance to the U.SL Department of Transportation regulations for Xenon headlamps.
SOURCE:
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